Glenn Gould championed the modern German-American composer Paul Hindemith, whose large corpus of works resembles Bach's in diversity, craft, and inherent drama. This disc is part of a series surveying the recordings of Glenn Gould, whose playing ignited reactions ranging from disquiet to awe; seldom was there indifference. The Canadian iconoclast is celebrated for his revelatory Bach interpretations (especially of the Goldberg Variations), yet he cherished the music of the Renaissance, was stupendous in recordings of Beethoven and Brahms, and championed composers of the 20th century like Hindemith, Prokofiev, Berg, Scriabin, and Strauss. These well-annotated editions add to the luster of a reputation that continues to shine, many years after his death.

"This composer wrote with a fine sense of architecture, and without exception Gould and the respective brass soloists detail this aspect of the music with great fidelity. They also impart a bristling energy to the composer's businesslike and occasionally whimsical lyric pulse while always detailing his invariably satisfying closing cadences in an ingratiating manner. This set is entirely successful. Four stars."—Buffalo News

"Gould plays the dickens out of these things. He understands not only how Hindemith constructs the music, but also how the composer achieves his emotional effects. There's technique and poetry both, as well as individuality of interpretation—just like Gould's Bach. To me, individuality this time around doesn't cross the line to eccentricity. Gould not only gives you contrapuntal clarity, he brings out any line or lines he wishes to and can change the texture instantly. His rhythm is sharp, without labor. What really sells this recording to me, however, is Gould's take on Hindemith's lyricism. For Gould, Hindemith's music primarily sings, and to bring this out, Gould constructs a gorgeous line."—Classics Today